County 911 director retiring

County also replacing one of two public guardians

ARENAC COUNTY — The Arenac County Board of Commissioners is beginning a search for a new 911 director after the current director, Steve Wuelfing, announced his intention to retire this November.

According to Commissioner Chairman Mike Snyder, given the critical nature of the position the county will be seeking someone with at least seven years of experience working in the emergency response field.

“It will take somebody who has done this sort of thing before,” Snyder said.

The board of commissioners has the final say on who gets hired, but is forming an interview committee to talk with candidates and determine whom to recommend to the full board for the position. Snyder said the committee consists of Wuelfing, Undersheriff Don McIntyre, Au Gres-Sims-Whitney Fire Chief Kurt Humerickhouse, Snyder himself, and one other commissioner who has not yet been named.

Snyder said the interview committee will also have two alternate members: Mobile Medical Response Director Matt Holcamp and Arenac County Emergency Management Director Ed Rohn. They will be on hand for specific questions requiring their expertise, Snyder said.

Snyder said the committee hopes to do interviews through the second week of September, and expects to ultimately interview between three and five people for the position. He said he is looking for someone who wants to stay in the area, rather than someone who is looking at it only as a stepping-stone to another position.

“I would like to get somebody who wants to stay with us for a while,” Snyder said.

Snyder said the county is limited in the money it could offer, which would likely be a deciding factor in the position. Ultimately he hopes to have someone onboard by October.

“We want to get someone in a month early if possible to work with Steve,” Snyder said.

Snyder also said the county was replacing one of its two public guardians, after they were unable to fulfill their contract due to personal reasons.

Her replacement, Sue Knight, was extended a contract to take over the position during the commissioner meeting Aug. 7, with a start date scheduled for Aug. 20. Snyder said she was one of the people interviewed for the position, and was the board’s third choice for the position.